2019 Pool Slalom

This year, the pool slalom will be held on Sunday, February 10 at the Mehlville High School pool

Course setup will be at approximately 7:30 AM. We have a simplified gate system so it should go quickly. After that the course will be open for practice runs. Racing will start at approximately 9:00 AM

Racing will be in order of sign-up, and in the class of your choice. After everyone has made their first run, we go back to the top of the list and repeat. If you show up after racing has started, you will start when your name comes up on the sign-up list. You can make as many runs as you like in as many classes as you qualify for. Usually, everyone has had their fill of racing by mid-afternoon.

Kids are welcome. Cadet classes (14 and under) will just do the first lap of the course rather than the full 3 laps. For novices and first-timers, we will coach you through the gates if you like.

Entry fee is $10 for adults, $5 for juniors (18 and under). Team River Runner members and veterans are free. There is a $5 fee if you are not an ACA member.

Please bring your ACA membership card or number! We need it for filing the activity report.

The address is 3200 Lemay Ferry Road, St. Louis 63125. The pool is in a separate building behind the school, near the football field.

There is an entrance to the pool facing the parking lot. There are hoses at each end of the pool. Please rinse the outside and inside of your boats thoroughly before putting them in the pool. Please get into your boats while they are in the water. No seal launches off the edge of the pool.

There are no water fountains at the pool so bring your own drinks and snacks. We will have some water available. There are soda/juice and snack machines at the pool.

Twenty hardy (foolhardy?) paddlers and several supporters braved the icy roads to attend the pool slalom on Sunday. For some of us, maneuvering around the stalled and stranded cars on the highway was much more challenging than negotiating the pool slalom course.

68 timed runs were recorded with Joe Sartori logging the only sub-2 minute runs. Racers and spectators enjoyed sub sandwiches from Jimmy John’s, soda, water and Krispy Kreme donuts (thanks to John Biermann and Mark Hromnak). New this year – several modest attendance prizes for lucky participants.

Thanks to everyone who helped with setup, takedown, timing and judging. Thanks to the Mehlville School District for allowing us to use the pool. Hopefully next year will feature better weather.